CHAPTER 399: CHAPTER 0396: IMMORTAL EMPEROR SENIOR, ARE YOU EVEN HUMAN?

Now, as the phantom of the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor appeared, everyone was taken aback. Could this be a trap? If so, escaping from here would likely be extremely difficult.

Even if it were just a remnant soul, it was not something they could contend with.

"It’s been too long... far too long."

"A hundred thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. Why have descendants only come now?"

"Was it because I hid the key too well?"

"No, I scattered it within the city. Why is it only now that you’ve arrived?"

"I was even considerate, leaving it in a scenic spot to ensure you wouldn’t fear dying on the way."

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor spoke with a deep melancholy, radiating endless sorrow. Perhaps things hadn’t turned out as he had anticipated.

Lin Fan murmured to himself, feeling like this Immortal Emperor’s dramatic entrance wasn’t exactly what he had imagined.

By rights, it should have been something grand—like a phoenix engulfed in fiery flames soaring into the sky, its piercing cries resounding across heaven and earth, before transforming gloriously into its true form. But why, in the end, was it such a dull and flavorless scene?

"Immortal Emperor, Senior, this junior has trespassed into the Immortal Emperor’s Treasure Vault without permission. I humbly seek your forgiveness," Dream Fairy said reverently. Even though the other party had passed away, she dared not be disrespectful and maintained an appropriately reverent demeanor.

"No, I’ve been waiting for juniors to arrive," the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor said.

Lin Fan remained guarded as he stared at him. After all, this was an Immortal Emperor. If he harbored any intentions, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor asked, "Does the Heavenly Court still exist?"

Dream Fairy replied, "It does, Senior. The Heavenly Court is still intact."

"Oh, it still exists, does it?" The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor’s expression remained cold, as if recalling something. But just as quickly, he seemed to push such thoughts aside. Turning his gaze to the group, he remarked with surprise, "Oh! I didn’t expect six of you to arrive. It seems one among you won’t get my Emperor Scripture after all."

Wang Jun hung his head low. "Senior, this junior is dull and unworthy of comprehending the Emperor Scripture you left behind. I am ashamed. Ever since obtaining the key to your treasure vault, I’ve been cultivating diligently, hoping to one day inherit your legacy and carry forward your Taoism."

His words carried a clear ulterior motive.

It was as if he were saying:

"Senior, do you see how pitiful I am?"

"Life’s been so tough."

"Couldn’t you cut me a break and offer me some benefits?"

Qin Yang looked at Wang Jun with disdain. What a shameless bastard. How come I never noticed this level of audacity before? Today, my horizons have truly been broadened.

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor said, "It has nothing to do with whether you’re dull or not. The fact that you could discover the stone wall proves that you’re not bad. But alas, there are only five Emperor Scriptures within that stone wall. Since six of you have entered, one of you is destined to miss out. It’s simply bad luck."

If he hadn’t said anything earlier, Wang Jun might have been able to hold it together. But now, he felt an overwhelming urge to cough up blood.

Is this something a person would do?

Is there really any need to make things so gut-wrenching? Couldn’t you have just left behind one more Emperor Scripture? This is pure torment!

"It seems this junior has no fate with your legacy, Senior," Wang Jun said regretfully, his mood visibly mournful. His expression was on point, as if truly grieving.

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor replied, "It’s good that you understand."

At that moment, Wang Jun felt as though a mighty fist had slammed into his chest, leaving him reeling with pain—real, gut-wrenching pain.

As a senior, couldn’t he offer some words of comfort?

Was there really any need to be so blunt?

The pain cut deep.

Lin Fan was beginning to find this Immortal Emperor rather amusing. He wasn’t like the old fogeys Lin Fan had encountered in the past. Those jerk cultivators always left behind inheritances designed to rob bodies and seize control.

It was always the same. Never anything different.

But right now, it was still too early to say. Caution was warranted.

No one could predict what this remnant soul’s true motives were.

Wang Jun no longer wanted to speak. To him, the world was filled with nothing but hostility. There wasn’t a shred of kindness in it. This wasn’t human behavior at all.

"You’ve all made it here, which means you share a connection with me and have passed my test."

"This sliver of my soul appears here in the hopes that one of you can pass on my Taoism. When you were comprehending the Emperor Scriptures, you surely realized that my ultimate goal was to achieve the Immortal Venerable Dao."

"But luck was not on my side. I perished halfway through my journey. Your arrival has rekindled my hope."

When Wang Jun heard the mention of legacy, a glimmer of hope lit up his eyes. There’s still a chance—I still have a chance.

Yet, the very next sentence extinguished that hope entirely.

"Don’t bother looking. Of the six of you, there are only five types of Emperor Scriptures. You don’t have one, which means your luck is terrible. Since my own luck was poor, I will not pass my Taoism onto someone equally unlucky."

The words of the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor were like a knife to the heart. His straightforwardness made him seem like kindred spirits with Qin Yang.

"Hahaha..." Qin Yang laughed heartily. "See? I told you not to overthink it. If your luck is bad, it’s just bad. Why bother worrying about it? Tell me, wasn’t coming here a waste? Did you get anything at all? Go back and check out the other stone walls. Maybe you’ll find some Divine Skills left behind by other seniors. But if you ask me, I doubt you’ll understand those, either."

Wang Jun’s face turned bright red with anger as he glared at Qin Yang, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You wretched bastard."

"One day, I’ll make you pay for this."

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor pointed at Qin Yang and said, "You’re not qualified either. In the past, I was just like you—schadenfreude incarnate. It left me with few friends and countless enemies, and I survived numerous life-and-death struggles to get this far. Any carelessness would have led to my untimely demise. Thus, you’re also unsuitable."

"Huh?" Qin Yang stared at the Immortal Emperor, dumbfounded.

"But I was just mocking someone a little... I wasn’t even mocking you. Was that really necessary?"

Qin Yang felt miserable. He had wanted to leave a good impression in front of the Dream Fairy, yet he wasn’t even acknowledged. It stung. Whatever, it’s not such a big deal. After all, I’m a direct descendant of an Immortal Venerable Family.

Who cares about some Immortal Emperor inheritance?

That was his final act of pride.

Wang Jun pointed at Qin Yang and laughed, "Hahaha! So? What now? You mocked me, and now the senior says you’re not good enough, either. What were you saying about me, Qin Yang? Seems like you’re no better than I am."

"You little—!" Qin Yang rolled up his sleeves, ready for fisticuffs. How infuriating. He was practically vibrating with anger, his liver ready to burst.

To be mocked by this third-rate nobody? Unthinkable.

"Silence!" the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor commanded sternly.

Qin Yang and Wang Jun instantly fell silent. With the Immortal Emperor speaking, how could they dare act out further?

Now, only four people remained.

Dream Fairy was brimming with anticipation. She yearned for the Immortal Emperor’s inheritance—it was an unparalleled opportunity.

But shortly thereafter...

Dream Fairy felt despair.

"You, young lady, are also unsuitable," the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor said, pointing at her.

Dream Fairy’s expression shifted slightly as she replied, "Senior, could you explain why this junior is unsuitable?"

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor said, "Because you’re a woman."

Lin Fan found this Immortal Emperor increasingly entertaining. The words he was saying seemed laced with some kind of animosity toward women. Could it be that he’d been hurt by a woman in the past?

Hmm.

It was highly possible.

Dream Fairy couldn’t accept it and protested, "Senior, with all due respect, I believe women are no less capable than men. I beseech you to reconsider."

"No, no. It’s not that I think women are lesser," the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor sighed. "To inherit my legacy is to become my disciple, my heir. But if a woman claims this inheritance, she may one day find a partner. And once there’s a partner, she’ll eventually... you know."

"I refuse to entertain the thought of hearing someone say..."

"That’s the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor’s heir who got screwed by so-and-so."

"If that were to happen, where would my dignity go?"

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor simply couldn’t accept such a scenario.

Lin Fan’s jaw dropped. Such crass, uncouth remarks coming from an Immortal Emperor... If he hadn’t heard it himself, he wouldn’t have believed it.

But it wasn’t just Lin Fan who was dumbfounded.

Everyone present was utterly stupefied.

What a savage Immortal Emperor. What a blunt Immortal Emperor. Did he not care at all about his image in others’ eyes?

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor, clearly, did not.

After all, he was already dead. With only a sliver of soul remaining and little time left, what could he possibly have to hide? Convoluted pretense would be utterly meaningless.

"Senior, I swear on my life never to marry, dedicating myself entirely to the Immortal Path. Heaven and earth as my witnesses, should I break this vow, let lightning strike me dead," declared Dream Fairy with conviction.

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor sighed, "Little girl, I believe your words, but..."

He cast his gaze across the room and continued.

"There are five men here. Among them, four are thinking about screwing you. You might not seek a partner, but others could take advantage of you at an opportune moment. That’s something I cannot condone."

Dream Fairy, shocked by his words, recoiled and looked around at the others in horror.

The War King roared angrily, "You—you—you... I can’t believe you four would harbor such disgraceful thoughts toward Dream Fairy. It’s truly despicable!"

"Mark my words! If anyone dares act indecently, I, the War King, will hunt them to the ends of the earth!"

"Huh? What’s with those looks? Why are you all staring at me?"

The War King bristled as the group’s eyes turned to him, glaring. "What are you implying?"

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor said, "You’re also unqualified. I’ve already read your thoughts—you’re the one who desires her the most. To be my heir, one must be honest and forthright. That’s the mark of a true strong heart. And you, you don’t have it."

Damn!

The schemes here were too deep.

To Lin Fan, the Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor clearly had something wrong in the head. If not, let the heavens strike him down.

Moreover, the Immortal Emperor clearly wasn’t serious about anything; otherwise, things wouldn’t be playing out like this.

"Senior, isn’t this a rather frivolous way to choose an heir?" the War King said, stunned by this Immortal Emperor’s ridiculous antics. This was not how an expert was supposed to behave.

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor shook his head, "No, true discernment always lies in the details. Among the five of you, there’s only one who never entertained impure thoughts."

He pointed at Xiang Fei.

Despair washed over the group. It seemed Xiang Fei was the chosen one.

Qin Yang said, "Brother Lin, that’s my goddess! How could you even think about it?"

Lin Fan replied calmly, "Brother Qin, I was just thinking. I haven’t done anything. No need to panic, alright?"

"Even thinking about it is unacceptable. You should’ve supported me, not thought about it yourself!" Qin Yang retorted.

The War King, unwilling to give up, asked, "Senior, there are two left now. Surely, you’ll decide soon—will you truly pass your Taoism to him?"

The Fierce Phoenix Immortal Emperor smiled.

"There’s no need to compare further."

"He’s the heir I’ve been waiting for..."

Immediately.

Everyone’s gaze fell upon Lin Fan in unison.

Their minds spun with endless questions.

What was this supposed to mean?

A predetermined choice?

Then what was the point of praising Xiang Fei earlier?